Family Gatherings

On the homepage of WTE there is a question posted about when to bring your newborn to a large family gathering. Since we are all due around Christmas I was just wondering what everyone was planning on doing. I'm due Dec 5th so my little girl will be about 3 weeks old by Christmas Day. I've been planning on taking her with me to my family gathering of about 30 or more people/children...but should I rethink that? What is everyone else doing?

On the homepage of WTE there is a question posted about when to bring your newborn to a large family gathering. Since we are all due around Christmas I was just wondering what everyone was planning on doing. I'm due Dec 5th so my little girl will be about 3 weeks old by Christmas Day. I've been planning on taking her with me to my family gathering of about 30 or more people/children...but should I rethink that? What is everyone else doing?

my husband and I travel every year to see family. this year we told everyone they have to come see us if they want to celebrate Christmas with our little family. we're due the 14th, so the baby will be less than 2 weeks and I'm not going to feel up to driving hours or flying anywhere. I say if you feel up to it, do it... if not, nobody can hold it against you...

my husband and I travel every year to see family. this year we told everyone they have to come see us if they want to celebrate Christmas with our little family. we're due the 14th, so the baby will be less than 2 weeks and I'm not going to feel up to driving hours or flying anywhere. I say if you feel up to it, do it... if not, nobody can hold it against you...

I'm due on the 27th..so I figure I'll be so big I won't want to do anything..and if I have the baby early it will be so soon to Christmas we wont go anywhere..esp where I live it's so cold and snowy in the winter

I'm due on the 27th..so I figure I'll be so big I won't want to do anything..and if I have the baby early it will be so soon to Christmas we wont go anywhere..esp where I live it's so cold and snowy in the winter

I'm due on December 31 and if this baby would be early I do plan on bringing it to family gatherings...unless of course it would be like 2 days old or something. My son was born 2 days after Thanksgiving, making him 4 weeks on Christmas Eve, and he went to my mil's on the eve and then to my mom's on Christmas day. Besides those two outings, he didn't leave the house except for appts till he was 6 weeks old.

I'm due on December 31 and if this baby would be early I do plan on bringing it to family gatherings...unless of course it would be like 2 days old or something. My son was born 2 days after Thanksgiving, making him 4 weeks on Christmas Eve, and he went to my mil's on the eve and then to my mom's on Christmas day. Besides those two outings, he didn't leave the house except for appts till he was 6 weeks old.

I am due the 26th but will ne induced the 19th. I plan on taking my baby to a few family things, but he/she will remain completely covered! And nobody is allowed to hold them. And if anyone has a problem too bad! ;)

I am due the 26th but will ne induced the 19th. I plan on taking my baby to a few family things, but he/she will remain completely covered! And nobody is allowed to hold them. And if anyone has a problem too bad! ;)

My DD was born December 2nd, and was barely over 6 lbs when she left the hospital. We live in a heavily populated Midwestern area and our pedi put the fear of God in us about RSV. She said when they're newborns there is basically nothing you can do for them if they catch something. So, we decided to keep her away from the young and the old, who seem to be more prone to getting sick. Unfortunately, that meant everyone else too...but oh well. Our daughter is our main concern. And DHs nieces and nephews are ALWAYS sick. One or more of them ALWAYS has something, and his sister drags 'em along everywhere. If anybody wanted to see her, then they could come to us. And as soon as they walked in the door we made them use hand sanitizer or scrub with soap. We figured, better to be overly cautious than end up sick. It'll probably be the same with the new LO this year.

My DD was born December 2nd, and was barely over 6 lbs when she left the hospital. We live in a heavily populated Midwestern area and our pedi put the fear of God in us about RSV. She said when they're newborns there is basically nothing you can do for them if they catch something. So, we decided to keep her away from the young and the old, who seem to be more prone to getting sick. Unfortunately, that meant everyone else too...but oh well. Our daughter is our main concern. And DHs nieces and nephews are ALWAYS sick. One or more of them ALWAYS has something, and his sister drags 'em along everywhere. If anybody wanted to see her, then they could come to us. And as soon as they walked in the door we made them use hand sanitizer or scrub with soap. We figured, better to be overly cautious than end up sick. It'll probably be the same with the new LO this year.

Oh wow.. I never thought about this! My family is super small (parents, one sibling and her husband and 12 year old daughter). But my husbands is HUGE! And his parents are divorced, so both sides are huge! Hmm.. I am going to have to seriously start thinking and discussing these things with him. I have a 16 month old (she was born in March-so nothing super exciting/holiday events occur then) and I don't want her to miss out on all the fun family events. Thanks for making me think of this! :)

Oh wow.. I never thought about this! My family is super small (parents, one sibling and her husband and 12 year old daughter). But my husbands is HUGE! And his parents are divorced, so both sides are huge! Hmm.. I am going to have to seriously start thinking and discussing these things with him. I have a 16 month old (she was born in March-so nothing super exciting/holiday events occur then) and I don't want her to miss out on all the fun family events. Thanks for making me think of this! :)

If our little guy shows up on his EDD, he will be just over a week old at Christmas. Probably will do the immediate family get together Christmas eve, but not the big one on Christmas day. If they want to see us and baby, they can come by. But if he's only a few days old, we may just stay in. Depends on how when he decides to come out.

If our little guy shows up on his EDD, he will be just over a week old at Christmas. Probably will do the immediate family get together Christmas eve, but not the big one on Christmas day. If they want to see us and baby, they can come by. But if he's only a few days old, we may just stay in. Depends on how when he decides to come out.

Unfortunately for us it's my turn to host my husbands family for Christmas. By family I mean his parents and brother's family (2 pre teen girls) by host I mean they all live across the country. Parents on the east coast and brother on the west. Basically my house will have 11 people and one new born in it for five days! I have had one child sick with RSV and another with pertussis so I am absolutely paranoid about this. So if the family wants to spend time with us over the holidays then they MUST have the flu shot and must have all other vac up to date including but not limited to pertussis. If they don't like it then they are not welcome. I will be a bit more gentle by saying how will they feel if our new born died because they did not wish to have a wee injection. At a week old they will need to respect my wishes. I don't share at the best of times.

Unfortunately for us it's my turn to host my husbands family for Christmas. By family I mean his parents and brother's family (2 pre teen girls) by host I mean they all live across the country. Parents on the east coast and brother on the west. Basically my house will have 11 people and one new born in it for five days! I have had one child sick with RSV and another with pertussis so I am absolutely paranoid about this. So if the family wants to spend time with us over the holidays then they MUST have the flu shot and must have all other vac up to date including but not limited to pertussis. If they don't like it then they are not welcome. I will be a bit more gentle by saying how will they feel if our new born died because they did not wish to have a wee injection. At a week old they will need to respect my wishes. I don't share at the best of times.

How very very funny that posted this, because this also just occured to me today.

I think we are still going to make the rounds at Christmas but I'm going to be very careful. Children will probably have to stand at least 3 feet away (wasn't that the swine flu radius?). Baby will be very covered and if you are holding him you will use hand sanitizer first and will be an adult without any outward signs of illness.

I may change my view after speaking to our doctor but this is my initial thought.

There is no way, though, that I would host a big family gathering just after I had my baby. The PP that is doing this is a much better woman than me.

How very very funny that posted this, because this also just occured to me today.

I think we are still going to make the rounds at Christmas but I'm going to be very careful. Children will probably have to stand at least 3 feet away (wasn't that the swine flu radius?). Baby will be very covered and if you are holding him you will use hand sanitizer first and will be an adult without any outward signs of illness.

I may change my view after speaking to our doctor but this is my initial thought.

There is no way, though, that I would host a big family gathering just after I had my baby. The PP that is doing this is a much better woman than me.

I'm due on 12/26 and as long as I am not in the hospital am hoping to at least make it to my grandparents home Christmas Eve for dinner, everyone else is going to be told if they want to see us on Christmas they will need to stop in and say hello...unless I'm in the hospital, then they can wait until they receive a phone call that baby has arrived :) Kind of mean but with our first I want it to be something special between my hubby and I! I am really hoping baby comes a week or 2 or early though!

I'm due on 12/26 and as long as I am not in the hospital am hoping to at least make it to my grandparents home Christmas Eve for dinner, everyone else is going to be told if they want to see us on Christmas they will need to stop in and say hello...unless I'm in the hospital, then they can wait until they receive a phone call that baby has arrived :) Kind of mean but with our first I want it to be something special between my hubby and I! I am really hoping baby comes a week or 2 or early though!

I know this sounds crazy and harsh, however my lo is due dec 8 just 2 weeks before Christmas and my mil does a big family Christmas and includes bro in law, sis in law, 2 neices, our family (dh myself ds), aunt and uncle, grandma, and her parents. I have said of everyone is WELL we will come by for a bit, and no passing baby around except to adults (one of my neices is always sick for Christmas) if that be the case, me and the baby will stay home!! I'm not risking my lo bc the other daughter won't keep her sick kid at home! My mom lives next door and I told her if everyone is well grandparents, brother, stepdad we willcome over for a while. That's it. No big great grandparent gatherings for this lo this year. Too risky! Sorry. If they want to see her they can come to the house!

I know this sounds crazy and harsh, however my lo is due dec 8 just 2 weeks before Christmas and my mil does a big family Christmas and includes bro in law, sis in law, 2 neices, our family (dh myself ds), aunt and uncle, grandma, and her parents. I have said of everyone is WELL we will come by for a bit, and no passing baby around except to adults (one of my neices is always sick for Christmas) if that be the case, me and the baby will stay home!! I'm not risking my lo bc the other daughter won't keep her sick kid at home! My mom lives next door and I told her if everyone is well grandparents, brother, stepdad we willcome over for a while. That's it. No big great grandparent gatherings for this lo this year. Too risky! Sorry. If they want to see her they can come to the house!

Not a better woman. Just one that does not want the Christmas schedule changed. It took us 5 years to get this sorted out (one year my family the following year dh's family) and I don't dare mess with it. Most if my "dinner" and breakfast prep will be done by November. All tucked nicely in the freezer. Stuffing will be ready to go again made and frozen a head I'd time (can't see why that would not work) plumb pudding is best made a head and frozen any way as are other treats such as rum balls (need a month or two to "cure" any way) short bread can be frozen even nanimo bars can be done a head of time. As for the rest well that's what my dh, my sil and mil are for :) they are capable of stuffing the bird, cooking potatoes and even cleaning up. :) yup I have it all figured out lol! Just need to figure out the proper timing. :) I have also put a time limit on things. No more than a four day visit from parents in law and three days from bil family. I believe I can survive that. The sad reality is soon my in-laws will be unable to Travel for the holidays. Mil smokes and is diabetic fil lives with a lot of second hand smoke and is not doing well mentally. The grand children are growing and soon won't wish to Travle so this will be one of the last opportunities for the in laws to have the whole family for the holidays.

Not a better woman. Just one that does not want the Christmas schedule changed. It took us 5 years to get this sorted out (one year my family the following year dh's family) and I don't dare mess with it. Most if my "dinner" and breakfast prep will be done by November. All tucked nicely in the freezer. Stuffing will be ready to go again made and frozen a head I'd time (can't see why that would not work) plumb pudding is best made a head and frozen any way as are other treats such as rum balls (need a month or two to "cure" any way) short bread can be frozen even nanimo bars can be done a head of time. As for the rest well that's what my dh, my sil and mil are for :) they are capable of stuffing the bird, cooking potatoes and even cleaning up. :) yup I have it all figured out lol! Just need to figure out the proper timing. :) I have also put a time limit on things. No more than a four day visit from parents in law and three days from bil family. I believe I can survive that. The sad reality is soon my in-laws will be unable to Travel for the holidays. Mil smokes and is diabetic fil lives with a lot of second hand smoke and is not doing well mentally. The grand children are growing and soon won't wish to Travle so this will be one of the last opportunities for the in laws to have the whole family for the holidays.

i am due dec 6th and i plan on taking my little girl to christmas with the family. i am going to bring hand sanitizer for the healthy people before they hold her and respectfully ask anyone who is showing any sign of sickness not to touch her or get too close. my family is pretty close and she will be seeing all the same people whether i take her out or they come to see us.. i figure its probably easier to just take her and get it all over with at once. i cant imagine not taking her to christmas celebrations... but i say if you feel its too risky then people can come visit you :)

i am due dec 6th and i plan on taking my little girl to christmas with the family. i am going to bring hand sanitizer for the healthy people before they hold her and respectfully ask anyone who is showing any sign of sickness not to touch her or get too close. my family is pretty close and she will be seeing all the same people whether i take her out or they come to see us.. i figure its probably easier to just take her and get it all over with at once. i cant imagine not taking her to christmas celebrations... but i say if you feel its too risky then people can come visit you :)

I think hand sanitizer is what I'll do. This is the only day of the year I'll be able to see my entire family and I definitely wouldn't want me or my little girl to miss her first christmas with the fam. Ill probably keep the other LOs st a safe distance though. Thanks for all the responses!

I think hand sanitizer is what I'll do. This is the only day of the year I'll be able to see my entire family and I definitely wouldn't want me or my little girl to miss her first christmas with the fam. Ill probably keep the other LOs st a safe distance though. Thanks for all the responses!

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